Mini review: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

GoodReads Summary: In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

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Source: Edelweiss
Expected publication date: 22/04/14

Thoughts:

Anne Blankman is a truly standout author in the YA historical fictional genre. She mixes real life events with fiction, and makes the reader look at history in a new and fascinating light.

Interestingly, the image Blankman paints of Hitler is not one we are accustomed to. We see him through the eyes of the main character, Gretchen. To her 'Uncle Dolf' is kind, gentle, and utterly charming. It's not until she encounters a Jewish reporter named Daniel, that she begins to questions everything that she's been lead to believe. It was easy to empathise and root for Gretchen, she's the kind of mc I want to see more of.  The 'forbidden romance' angle of the story, was, in my opinion, well crafted. There's no over the top drama or insta-love. Instead the romance develops at a slow and believable pace, as Daniel opens Gretchen's eyes to the truth. The secondary characters were also well developed - from Gretchen's cold and ruthless brother, and distant mother, to her friends Eva and Geli.

The first in a planned trilogy, Prisoner of Night and Fog is a stunning story that I highly recommend to fans of books like The Book Thief. 

In profile, she saw things about his features she hadn't noticed before: the straightness of his nose, the full shape of his lips, the sharp point of his chin. Why couldn't he appear the way he was supposed to? The human shape of his face, the human smell of him-all combined to make it difficult to remember he was a subhuman.
* Quote taken from e-arc. May be subject to change.

Rating:

UK cover reveal: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

An explosive, fast-paced thriller set in Nazi Germany.

Gretchen Muller has, as best she can, dealt with the horrors of her family's past. Her father, a senior Nazi officer, died to save the life of their leader, Adolf Hitler. And now Germany has the chance to be great once more. Swept up in the excitement and passion of life in Munich in 1931, seventeen-year-old Gretchen has embraced the life laid out for her by that leader, her 'Uncle Dolf'.

But the secrets of the past cannot be silenced forever. When Gretchen receives a letter from an anonymous sender claiming to have more information about her father's death, she becomes swept up in a desperate and dangerous search for the truth. With the full might of the ever-powerful Nazi party on her tail, it is a race that will risk everything she has and change her life forever..

"It's terrifying and incredible to think how much of this story is true" - Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY.

I read Prisoner of Night and Fog back in November and really, really enjoyed it! I'm currently working on my review, which should hopefully be up at some point in March.

Expected publication date (UK): 22/04/14 

So, what do you think of the cover? Personally, I love it! It suits the story.

Poppy by Mary Hooper

GoodReads summary: England, 1914. Poppy is fifteen, beautiful and clever, but society has already carved out her destiny. There's no question of her attending the grammar school - it's too expensive and unsuitable for a girl. Instead, Poppy will become a servant at the big house. And she'll 'keep out of trouble'. But Poppy's life is about to be thrown dramatically off course. The first reason is love - with someone forbidden, who could never, ever marry a girl like her. The second reason is war. Nothing could have prepared her for that. As she experiences what people are capable of - the best of humanity and the very worst - Poppy will find an unexpected freedom and discover how to be truly her own person.

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Source: NetGalley
Expected publication date: 08/05/14

Thoughts:

Poppy is a touching story about war, friendship, and first love. 

Prior to becoming a book blogger I wasn't a big historical fiction reader, but over the last year or so I have been reading more and more books from the genre. I am especially interested in ones that are centered around WW1 and 2. Recent war-related books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed are Prison of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Poppy too has now been added to my list of enjoyable war-related reads.

I have only read one other book by Hooper and that is Fallen Grace, a wonderful story set in the Victorian Era. Something that Hooper excels at is painting a vivid image of the era in which the book is set in. It is obvious she has done her research, I truly felt as if I were there with Poppy on her journey of self-discovery. It was interesting reading about the war through the eyes of a 15 year parlormaid-soon to be VAD nurse. Poppy is a lively and intelligent mc, who I had no problem rooting for.

As of late she has been feeling romantic feelings towards her employers youngest son, and he seemingly is quite taken with her too. Just as something begins to brew, however, her ex-teacher presents her with an opportunity of a life time - to train as a VAD nurse, and by doing so serve her country and do her bit for the war effort. Her teacher believes she is far too resourceful and intelligent to be working as a parlormaid, so she offers to pay her allowance seeing as how it is a voluntary position.

The era in which the book is set was a time of great change for women. They were found taking on jobs that prior to the war were considered to be jobs for men. During her time training as a VAD nurse Poppy learns much, and her eyes are opened to the horrors and wonders of war. She makes new friends, all the while secretly writing to Freddy. Both storylines, romantic and otherwise, had me glued to the book. The ending left me wanting more, so I was delighted to find that there is going to be a sequel "Poppy in the Field". I am very much looking forward to continuing on with Poppy's story.

Rating:

Stacking the Shelves (#17)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga over at Tynga Reviews.

For review:

Shattered by Teri Terry
Curious to see how the trilogy ends.

Purchased:

Cress by Marissa Meyer
Currently reading and (loving) this!

Edelweiss: 

The Queen of Tearling by Erika Johansen

 
NetGalley

Poppy by Mary Hooper

Have you read/do you plan to read any of these books? :)

Stacking the Shelves (#16)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga over at Tynga Reviews.

Purchased:
Rift by Andrea Cremer
I haven't read Cremer's Nightshade series, because of the love triangle. A friend of mine in RL said I'd enjoy the prequel duology more, so I thought why not. :)

The Return of the King and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (audiobooks)

Have you read/do you plan to read any of these books? :)

Three by Kristen Simmons

GoodReads Summary: Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a peaceful and quiet existence—but all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the one thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

Because of their high profiles, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amid the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he thought he’d never see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about… a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance to tell the world her story—and to fight back.

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Source: NetGalley
Expected publication date: 11/02/13  

“Is it too redneck to say you look sexy operating a radio?”

In my opinion, there is nothing better than finishing the last book in a trilogy/series than with a happy sigh.

Three picks up where Breaking Point left off. Ember, Chase and the gang are desperately searching for survivors from the destroyed safe house. Along the way finding clues that they believe are linked to Three, the lucrative organization that heads the resistance. Then just as there hope of finding survivors dwindles they encounter someone from Chase's past who changes everything...

Although the plot is thoroughly engaging, what really stands about this trilogy is the characters. The path that Chase and Ember tread isn't an easy one, it's intertwined with hope, betrayal, and surprises, be that or good or bad. Chase and Ember continue to grow, and so does their relationship. Chase struggles to come to terms with his past, and Ember is always there to support and guide him. Doom and gloom aside, there was also some swoony moments:

"You need a bath."
His muscles loosened by the slightest degree. "Maybe you could take one with me."
I felt his grin against my neck. "Make sure I don't cut any corners." 
My stomach fluttered. "Maybe I will."
He went still. 

*sigh* These two are my OTP, they are just made for each other. 

Even the secondary characters are layered and complex. None of them are black and white good guys/bad guys, there's more to them than meets the eye. They all have to face moral dilemmas and make tough decisions. Tucker, however, is the character that surprised me the most. The whole way through reading this I was never quite sure where he stood, I was continually second guessing myself when it came to him. He's the kind of character that will stay with you, I think. He has, in fact, become a favourite of mine. The friendship between Sean, Rebecca, and Ember was also very sweet.

To conclude: I will read anything that Simmons writes.

Rating:

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

GoodReads Summary: The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

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Source: NetGalley

Thoughts:

This was my first book by Yovanoff and other than the fact  that I was sourly disappointed I don't have much to say about it. Hence the mini review.

One of my main problems with Paper Valentines was that I felt like the author was trying to cover too much in one  book. This made the story feel rushed, and left me feeling unsatisfied  as many things were left unexplained. Like for example why the ghosts  were attracted to Hannah. And the things that were explained seemed too  convenient, and quite frankly left me underwhelmed.

Another  issue I had was that I couldn't connect with Hannah. She acted like a  push-over, and didn't really defend herself against the people who were  supposedly her friends. I was not a fan of the romance between Hannah  and Finny, either. There was no build up, it just came out of nowhere.  They barely spoke a few words before they were kissing.

Overall, Paper Valentine was not my cup of tea. I doubt I will be picking up any of Yovanoff's other books anytime soon.

Rating: